We just updated all the MLB 40-man rosters. We removed all the retired players and those no longer in the MLB. We will also update the minor league rosters in the near future. You should see your favorite rookies on the rosters.

Here are one person's thoughts with regards to making the NHL more entertaining for him. There’s nothing in here that would be remotely appetizing to the 30 votes that matter.

Reduce the number of players dressed per game to 18. This effectively removes less skilled players.

Reduce the number of teams to 20. This effectively removes less skilled players.

Reduce the number of games played per week to 3. This effectively allows for better rested players, where games per week are currently 3.5.

Reduce the number of regular season games. I’m flexible with regards to the exact number of games. A minimum of 50 games would certainly let the cream rise to the top without bumping those quality teams that go on a 3 week swoon. The number, however, should not become so high that the outcome becomes too predictable for the majority of the teams. That just might make 70 games the maximum.

I prefer a balanced schedule, although I’m well aware that most enjoy playing local teams more often

Reduce the number of teams that qualify for the playoff to 8, with 3 7 game rounds. 5 games might be sufficient; however I can not get my mind to think of a playoff round being other than 7.

1st seed will play 8th seed, etc…

I prefer that these 8 seeds are the top 8 teams in the NHL with no preference being offered to division and conference. I am well aware that some may lose interest if no one from their region was competing in the playoffs. Perhaps my opinion is one from the east end of our continent.

I should be noted at this point that with a balanced schedule and no seeding preferences the concept of division and conference adds little to our world

No playoff round is to begin before the previous round is complete

Playoff games will be scheduled such that you are playing every 2nd day, where each team is to get at least 1 day off. This last point is important between rounds.

3 week training camp seems sufficient

Time off for Xmas, All-Star break, between regular season & playoffs, for Olympics & World Cup can easily be accommodated

No expansion to Winnipeg, Québec, Halifax. In the new 20 team NHL teams such as Edmonton & Calgary will be considered weak in many respects. Although I did intend on staying away from any reasoning of this sort.

West division

Vancouver

Calgary

Edmonton

Los Angeles

Colorado

Midwest division

Detroit

Chicago

Minnesota

Saint Louis

Dallas

Southeast division

Boston

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Northeast

Montréal

Ottawa

Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto 2nd

Buffalo

What undermines everyone’s effort when entertaining any conversation that puts forth anything resembling the above is the idea that you can sell it. Don’t! You can’t! It’s purely entertainment!

Domi scored from Lindros, Leafs lead 1-0. Great passing play between Domi and Lindros.

McCabe from Allison and O'Neil on PP. Boston was guarding against the point shot from McCabe. Kaberle passed to the left boards to O'Neil to Allison down low and the puck movement left McCabe open on the weak side. 2-0 Leafs.

It would seem that pushing your opponent off his feet is now either called tripping or holding. 2 minutes for Moran.

Belfour looked solid. End of first.

Second Period

Belak chased the Bruin around the net giving him an easy path to the net, then Khavanov tripped over his shadow when trying to clear the puck. 2-1.

A minute later 2-2.

Most of the game is being played in the Bruins zone.

Murray wrist shot from 35 ft beat Belfour. 3-2 Bruins.

Belfour has been on and off all year.

Khavanov and Belak got beat again. Breakaway. No goal but Belak took a penalty.

Wellwood wins the faceoff to Khavanov, a bullet to the top corner. PP goal. 3-3.

Klee gave away the puck, Khavanov blocked the shot. Khavanov has got some confidence.

x-Leaf, Travis Green has had 4 chances this game, but hasn't been able to make a good shot.

The refs are getting stupid. You don't seem to be able to get in a players way without risking a penalty. Several of the calls tonight were unseen by anybody but the ref.

Third Period

Belfour has made some nice saves but then lets in bad goals. This time he went to play the puck in the no-goalie zone, realized his mistake, but then was out of position and gave up too early. Just plain bad. 4-3 Bruins.

Here's another new rule. If you poke check, that's called hooking. 2 minutes for Allison.

Raycroft has not looked good, but the Leafs are simply failing to get shots on net.

Another amazing save by Belfour.

And if you push a player in the back, with only one hand on your stick, it's scored cross-checking. 2 minutes for Kaberle.

No problem, Poniko scored from Stajan SH. 4-4.

Blatant cross-check by Scatchard on a goal mouth scramble. No call.

Lifting a players stick from behind is hooking too! The reffing is getting stupid.

Overtime

Belfour was spectacular in overtime and blank 3 Bruins in the shootout. Lindros scored on the shootout and the Leafs win!

BTW, you would've had to kill somebody to get a penalty in the overtime. Lot's of slashing.

Randy: I organized the players by their likelyhood of being selected. I placed all reasonably young players who played well on the 2004 Canada World Cup team (marked *) and complimented it with players who are obvious choices (2002 Canada Olympic team marked **). Injuries will change everything, but as it stands, either Theodore or Turco will be the 3rd goalie, one of Blake, Foote, Jovocop and Pronger will be the 7th defenceman and one of a long list of players could be the 12th and 13th forward.

Ottawa Senators - Barring an injury to Hasek, Ottawa should win the division with well over 100 points. Chara, Phillips, Redden on D and too many forwards to stop. Spezza and Heatley could both finish in the top 5 in scoring.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Toronto's position in the standings will depend entire on Sundin, Lindros and Allison. Possibly the best trio of centers to play on one team.

Montreal Canadians - Montreal has the type of small team that could work in the new NHL. If the penalties are called all year, they could easily finish ahead of Toronto.

Boston Bruins - The Bruins have a great team outside of their d-men; Dallman, Gill, Leetch (over the hill) and Slegr. The lack of d-men makes them a fringe playoff team.

Buffalo Sabres - The Sabres don't have the firepower, the d-men or the goaltending to make the playoffs. Might be a long season.

TSN: TSN, which is the rightsholder for the 2005 NHL entry draft in Ottawa on July 30, will carry the lottery event. [cut] The big prize, of course, is talented youngster Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Oceanic. [cut] Four teams (Buffalo, Columbus, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh) have three balls in the lottery. Ten teams (Anaheim, Atlanta, Calgary, Carolina, Chicago, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, Phoenix) have two balls in the drum. The remaining 16 teams (Boston, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, New Jersy, NY Islanders, Ottawa, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington) have one.